Udonis Haslem moving toward return to Heat for 16th NBA season

The Miami Heat are moving toward an agreement with Udonis Haslem for a return for a 16th season with the team, a source familiar with the discussions confirmed Wednesday to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Haslem, 38, whose playing time was reduced to 14 appearances for a total of 72 minutes last season, going without a postseason appearance as the Heat fell in five games in the first round of the playoffs to the Philadelphia 76ers, had spoken earlier in the offseason of potentially looking to play elsewhere, including overseas, in a bid for more playing time.

Of his talks with the Heat, Haslem told the Associated Press, "It was a great conversation. At the end of the day, it was a conversation about if they want me back and if I want to be back."

Haslem said earlier in the offseason it was important to step away before a decision on returning to the team that gave him his first NBA opportunity in 2003 after he went undrafted out of Florida the previous year.

"Every time I talk to the guys, they want me to come back, they want to know," he said of his interactions at AmericanAirlines Arena. "I don't know. I'm just chilling, having fun. I've got a lot of energy.

"I still got game left in me."

Heat president Pat Riley said last month he expected decisions from Haslem and Wade in mid August, hopeful for a return by both. Riley said earlier in the offseason he respected the right for each to deliberate their next step, with Haslem continuing to expand his South Florida restaurant investments.

"Both Udonis and Dwyane deserve the respect to sit and wait on this thing," he said. "And so there's no rush. Besides, he’s becoming an entrepreneur. I can't even talk to him anymore. I can invest with him, but I can't get in touch with him."

Haslem's return likely will come at a figure around the $2.4 million veteran minimum for players with his tenure, but because of his Bird Rights, he is eligible for any figure from the Heat.

Haslem again would find himself in a deep power rotation that includes Hassan Whiteside, Kelly Olynyk, Bam Adebayo and James Johnson, among others.

Born in Miami and a prep champion at Miami Senior High School, Haslem resides in Southwest Ranches.

He is the Heat's all-time leader in offensive, defensive and total rebounds. He is also the first undrafted player in NBA history to become their team's all-time rebound leader.

Haslem finished third in the balloting for the 2017-18 Twyman-Stokes Teammate Award in polling among NBA players, finishing behind only winner Jamal Crawford of the Minnesota Timberwolves and runner-up Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs.